Satellite News

Israeli satellite operator Space Communication Ltd. has reportedly been unable to make an advance payment on its US$112 million contract with SSL to build its latest satellite, Amos-8.

Avanti Communications (AVN) has signed a US$10 million contract with Viasat Inc.

Eutelsat Communications S.A. said it noted the recent speculation and confirms that it is currently evaluating a possible offer for Inmarsat.

The U.S. Air Force has announced the award of an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch service contract.

SSL announced it shipped the first of three satellites that SSL will deliver to the SpaceX launch base at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida over the next month.

With just one year before Vega-C lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, preparations for Europe’s next launcher are gaining momentum, ESA said.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting 5 Wide Area Augmentation System navigation payload, developed by Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business, is now operational and fully integrated into the WAAS network.

EchoStar said that it had a near 3% shareholding in Inmarsat, as well as a 10.4% position in its convertible bonds. The disclosure, which was made in a stock exchange filing, comes after Inmarsat announced earlier this month that it had rejected a takeover approach from EchoStar because it “very significantly undervalued” its business.